Jan 8, 2025
“Hope doesn’t take away the darkness, but it shines some light in it.”- Abby Zachritz
We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their website.
In this powerful first episode of the year, Katie sits down with Abby Zachritz—better known as Advocacy Abby—who shares her journey from personal tragedy to becoming a beacon of hope for families in need. Abby recounts the near-drowning accident that changed her son Wyatt’s life and how her unwavering hope and faith led her to discover vital resources. Now, through her platform, Abby connects families with grants and support they may not even know exists. This conversation is filled with practical advice, emotional insights, and inspiration for any parent navigating complex medical journeys. Katie and Abby dive into deep conversations about what it means to have hope during difficult seasons.
🔑 Key Points:
- Abby’s Story: Learn how Wyatt’s near-drowning accident, the initial prognosis, and how faith and hope played a role in his recovery.
- The Role of Hope: Why hope is essential for families facing medical uncertainty, and how it impacts not just parents but the entire care team.
- Community Support: How Abby’s community rallied around her family with meals, transportation, and childcare during hospital stays.
- Discovering Grants and Resources: Abby explains how she found grants to fund life-changing therapies and equipment for Wyatt.
- The Birth of Advocacy Abby: How Abby’s personal experiences led her to create a platform that connects families with essential grants and resources.
- The Connect Platform: Abby’s resource for families to search for grants by location, diagnosis, and need—streamlining a once overwhelming process.
✨ Takeaways for Listeners:
- Hope is a Lifeline: Even in the darkest moments, holding onto hope can make a difference in your child’s recovery journey.
- Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to lean on your community and accept support—it’s vital for your well-being and your child’s care.
- Grants Exist for a Reason: There are countless grants available for equipment, therapy, and even family vacations—many families just need to know where to look.
- Preparation is Key: Keep diagnosis letters, IEPs, and insurance denials in one file to simplify grant applications.
- Advocacy Matters: What you learn from your experience can help another family; advocacy can start with sharing one resource or grant.
🌐 Links and Resources from today's Episdoe
🎙️Meet the host:
Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside.